UK ISAR Completes Successful Deployment to Venezuela
UK ISAR teams have safely returned to the UK following a deployment to Venezuela in response to the devastating earthquakes that struck the country.
The 68-strong UK contingent, made up of firefighters and specialist personnel from 14 Fire and Rescue Services, deployed to the Caraballeda coastal region, approximately 15 kilometres north of the capital, Caracas. Working alongside the Venezuelan authorities and international partners, the team supported the wider search and rescue effort in one of the areas most affected by the earthquakes.
During the deployment, UK ISAR personnel carried out systematic searches of collapsed buildings using specialist technical rescue equipment and six highly trained search dogs. Operating in challenging conditions, the team worked tirelessly alongside local responders to help locate survivors, assess damaged structures and support the humanitarian response.
The deployment brought together a wide range of specialist capabilities, including technical rescue teams, canine search handlers, medics, a structural engineer and a veterinary surgeon. This multidisciplinary approach ensured UK ISAR was able to provide a comprehensive urban search and rescue capability throughout the operation.
The deployment demonstrated the professionalism, expertise and commitment of UK Fire and Rescue Service personnel, who represented the UK while working in a demanding international environment. Throughout the operation, the team maintained the highest operational standards, adapting to changing conditions and working seamlessly with partner organisations.
UK ISAR would like to thank all personnel involved, their families and employers for their continued support, as well as the Venezuelan authorities and international partners for their collaboration throughout the deployment.
While our deployment has now come to an end, our thoughts remain with the people of Venezuela and all those whose lives have been affected by this devastating disaster. We hope the ongoing recovery brings strength to the communities impacted and wish everyone involved in the response every success in the challenging weeks and months ahead.
The operation once again demonstrated the value of international cooperation and the UK’s ability to provide a world-class urban search and rescue capability whenever it is called upon.
